Blue Martini Kendall Now Open, Some Live Shows Scheduled

​If you've been to any of the various Blue Martini bars throughout Florida (and elsewhere), then you know what to expect, more or less -- a decently upscale, but still pretty democratic, neighborhood bar with the usual happy hours and ladies' nights. The latest addition to the chain is a location in deep Kendall, in the recently revamped Town and Country Mall ... or, rather, as it's now called, "the Palms at Town and Country."

Yes, that pseudo-swanky new moniker for the new shopping center might raise some eyebrows, but the location itself has proven a successful spot for nightlife in the neighborhood in the past. It's the spot where the old Cafe Iguana lasted seemingly forever, and since then, there's been a gap in late-night revelry options for West Kendallites. Luckily for them, Blue Martini operates with club hours -- until only 3 a.m. during the week, but 5 a.m. on Fridays and Saturday nights.

What might interest Crossfade readers about the place, though, is a couple of live music shows scheduled for the coming weeks. We're not talking about bar bands or jazz nights, although there are some of those scheduled, but some nights of original music.

On August 16 and 30, for instance, Fort Lauderdale active rockers Ghost of Gloria are scheduled to perform (despite the venue's web site saying Mondays are meant to feature "Latin-inspired" bands). Other nights feature performances by the very talented local jazz/soul singers Nicole Henry and Ruby Baker.

Yes, it's a bit of a random selection in an unlikely locale, but perhaps, local artists, it's worth trying to contact the venue to get yourself booked while the place is still fresh. Check out the Kendall location's page on the Blue Martini web site for more information.